"I don't understand": Isack Hadjar crashes out of Monaco FP1

Isack Hadjar's Monaco weekend began with a costly mistake on Friday morning, as the Red Bull-backed driver crashed heavily into the Monte Carlo barriers during FP1. The impact ended his session immediately, leaving Hadjar audibly bewildered over team radio.

Why it matters:

Monaco is unforgiving. There is no runoff and no margin for error, so any contact with the walls can derail an entire weekend. For a young driver like Hadjar, losing nearly all of FP1 is a severe blow. Track time here builds confidence lap by lap, and missing those early sessions creates a deficit that is tough to recover before qualifying.

The Details:

• Hadjar hit the wall hard early in the opening practice session, triggering a red flag and ending his running on the spot.
• Over team radio, he was heard saying, "I don't understand," suggesting the crash caught him completely by surprise rather than resulting from a prolonged loss of control.
• The impact was described as a "huge slam," pointing to substantial suspension and chassis damage. With Monaco's tight streets offering zero room for error, even minor misjudgments carry maximum consequences.
• His team now faces a major repair job before FP2, with the lost track time compounding the physical damage.

What's next:

Hadjar and his engineers face a race against the clock to prepare the car for second practice. Without FP1 data, he will likely need a cautious approach in FP2 to rebuild rhythm while avoiding further incidents. With qualifying dictating everything around Monaco's tight streets, recovering that lost ground quickly is essential to avoid starting Sunday's race on the back foot.